Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-03-25
HENRY NJ. STANLEY.
A Sketch of the Famous Explorer
and Man.
His True Name "John Rowlands''-A Lit
tic "wcakncss"-The Natives Fear
OF His yes'ci-safety in
"Still Life"


tic .wcakncss"-The Natives Fear
OF His yes'ei-safety in
"still Liic."
Nobody asks who Henry NJ. Stanley
is, nor what he has done. His name is
as familiar as that of Livingstone, with
which it is closely connected in the
popular mind, or MS those of Sir John
Franklin and DIR. Kane used to be; and
everybody knows that he went into
the heart of Africa and found Living
stone when the world believed the
great missionary-cXplorer dead.
But Stanley has done greater deeds
than this. His search expedition was
undertaken ut time when compara-
lively little was known of the vast in
terror of Africa. The great lakes had
been visited, Livingstone had crossed
South Africa, discovered Lake Bang
weolo and the grandest falls in the
d-Victoria-and had explored the
eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika; but
the sources of the Congo, most of the
country through which it runs, and its
wonderful tributaries were unknown.
Stanley, beginning where Livingstone
left ufl, has done more for geographical
science, civilization, and commerce
than any other African explorer. He
and Livingstone, and Cameron, and
Burton, and Speke have made the work
of the photographer far different from
what it was known in the days of Swift,
when
"Geographers, in Afrlc maps,
With savage pictures fill their gaps;
And DER unhabitable downs
Place elephants for want of towns"
Steamers now ply on the waters of
the Upper Congo and its tributaries,
which afford an aggregate of seven
thousand miles of navigable streams.
A railroad is already planned round
the rapids of the Lower Congo to Stan
ley Pool, and missionaries are advanc-
ing, with purpose of peaceful conquest
into the very heart of the Ozark Cont
nent." Even women, European wo-
men, are travelling the route which,
before Stanley accomplished it. the
world hardly expected white men
would ever successfully undertake.
Stanley has made il possible to estab-
lish legitimate commerce with the pop
ulons and productive interior, and in
the near future to reach the seat of the
abominable slave traffic, and break it
up, to civilize the people, and to give
them the Gospel. Simply as the founder
of the great Congo Free State. to the
developcment of which the King of
Belgium is devoting much of his
thought and his royal fortune, and for
the maintenance of which, for the BEN
eft of the whole world, the power and
influence of the great nations of Europe
are pledged, Stanley has earned the
gratitude of the civilized world.
All this and much more is due to STAN
ley;ye Suspect this is much less wide
ly known than the fact that he found
Livingstone. The former is present
history to which every day is adding
something; the latter is an event COM
plete and fixed. Livingstone, the idol
of Christendom, has gone to his rest,
not only admired for his great achieve
ments, but loved, deeply loved for his
noble nature, his broad human SYM
pathies, his sublime sacrifice for Africa.
Stanley is man of different mold, but
the world owes him greater debt al
ready than it owes Livingstone, and he
is yet young man, comparatively.
Stanley's sudden recall from this
country by his royal employer, the
King of Belgium, will prevent, Mt least
for some time, thousands of his coun-
trymen from looking upon the African
explorer and civilizer. He is one of
the great men of the age; certainly
the greatest explorer of the century,
and it can never be II matter of indif-
ference to the multitude to be in the
presence of such man, especially MS
he has brought such honor to the
American name.
And this reminds me of the fact
which, l suspect, is not very widely
known, that Stanley is not native of
this country, nor was he born to the
name of Stanley. His early life gave
little promise of n great career. He
was chiistencd John Rowlands, and
remained John Rowlnnds until he was
nearly grown up; and "John Row.
lands" doubtless might have been
made as famous as "Henry NJ. STAN
ley" if he had not given il up for that
of the New Orleans merchant who
adopted him, but who, dying soon
after, left him nothing but the name.
1t is a good name at all events; better,
undoubtedly. for famous person than
"Rowlands;" for greatness had already
become attaehed to il before the great
explorer took it. Have we not had n
great statesman, u great ecclesiastic
and scholar who wore it, and has not
Scott given us a line which might serve
as the motto of our hero.
ION, Stanley, on"P
Stanley has never disowned his par.
entage, or has he attempted to conceal
the fact that when he was three years
old, his parents dying, he was sent to
ST. Asaph's poor-house, where he re.
maincd ten years and got sufficient
schooling to enable him TO teach yeal
before he sailed as cabinboy for New